Forethought can be of vast practical use in cases where confidence is required.  Many a young clergyman and lawyer has been literally frightened out of a career, and many an actor ruined for want of a very little knowledge, and in this I speak from personal experience.  Let the aspirant who is to appear in public, or pass an examination, and is alarmed, base his forethought on such ideas as this, that he would not be afraid to repeat his speech to one person or two—­why should he fear a hundred?  There are some who can repeat this idea to themselves till it takes hold strongly, and they rise almost feeling contempt for all in court—­as did the old lady in Saint Louis, who felt so relieved when a witness at not feeling frightened that she bade judge and jury cease looking at her in that impudent way.

Having read the foregoing to a friend he asked me whether I believed that by Forethought and Suggestion a gentleman could be induced without diffidence to offer himself in marriage, since, as is well known, that the most eligible young men often put off wedding for years because they cannot summon up courage to propose.  To which I replied that I had no great experience of such cases, but as regarded the method I was like the Scotch clergyman who, being asked by a wealthy man if he thought that the gift of a thousand pounds to the Kirk would save the donor’s soul, replied:  “I’m na prepairet to preceesly answer thot question—­but I wad vara warmly advise ye to try it.”

It must be remembered that for the very great majority of cases, if really not for all, the practicer of this process must be of temperate habits, and never attempt after a hearty meal, or drinking freely, to exercise Forethought or Self-Suggestion.  Peaceful mental action during sleep requires that there shall be very light labor of digestion, and disturbed or troublesome dreams are utterly incompatible with really successful results.  Nor will a single day’s temperance suffice.  It requires many days to bring the whole frame and constitution into good fit order.  Here there can be no evasion, for more than ordinary temperance in food and drink is absolutely indispensable.

It is a principle, recognized by all physiologists, that digestion and fixed thought cannot go on together; it is even unadvisable to read while eating.  Thus in all the old magical operations, which were, in fact, self-hypnotism, a perfect fast is insisted on with reason.  This is all so self-evident that I need not dwell on it.  It will be needless for anyone to take up this subject as a trifling pastime, or attempt self-suggestion and development of will with as little earnestness as one would give to a game of cards; for in such a half-way effort time will be lost and nothing come of it.  Unless entered on with the most serious resolve to persevere, and make greater effort and more earnestly at every step, it had better be let alone.